Mutualfundreform.com

News that the Federal Reserve is considering a new $1 trillion round of quantitative easing is being accompanied by new data showing the ratio between home equity and disposal income is at a historic low.  This unprecedented ratio is all important in a credit society since it demonstrates that expansion possibilities are limited to non-existent if American consumers cannot borrow.

It has been one year since the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) delivered a report to Congress recommending the adoption of a universal fiduciary standard regulation that would apply to retail advisers and brokers. Now it looks like this long-overdue rule will not even be considered during 2012. The average person would think a year is enough time to consider the fiduciary question, especially since the ideas has been floated…

While they will not take effect until April 2012, the first changes from the new DOL disclosures have already emerged, months before the new rules are slated to become effective.

 “The U.S. job market is showing signs of a sustained recovery. But the country’s prolonged struggle with unemployment will leave scars that are likely to remain for years, if not generations.” –Ben Casselman, The Wall Street Journal, Jan. 9, 2012 While the prevailing mantra for the upcoming election is “job creation,” the better long-term goal may be the daunting task of replacing the trillions in lost wealth from the housing…

“Verizon Wireless bowed to a torrent of criticism on Friday and reversed a day-old plan to impose a $2 bill-paying fee that would have applied to only some customers.” –New York Times, Dec. 30, 2011 If a $2 per month fee can reverse the decision of the nation’s largest cell phone company, what will happen when 401(k) participants see they are being charged thousands in fees for services that do…

“Between 1984 and 2009, the median net worth of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives more than doubled, according to the analysis of financial disclosures, from $280,000 to $725,000 in inflation-adjusted 2009 dollars, excluding home equity.

If you participate in a 401(k) plan or have a role in administering one, the year 2012 will be important.  The reason: 2012 is when administrators and plan participants will be discussing about the little-known practice of revenue sharing and how their 401(k) plan providers charge for their services. On April 30, 2012, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) new fee disclosure regulations go into effect, largely due to the “unprecedented attention” about the need…

At one time, Europe was considered the trendsetter in fashion, design and political thought.  Now, a new study by Greenwich Research shows that Europe is leading the way in fee reductions and introducing new investment products centered around ETFs and specialized funds. The reason for the re-positioning is due to Europe’s new economic realities. The 2011 European Intermediary Distribution study found that in order to remain competitive and provide a…

Just as momentum is building inside Congress to enact new rules prohibiting insider trading among elected officials, an opposing Objectivist view (advocated by adherents of Ayn Rand) is being aired which contends that insider trading should be legalized. The rationale?